Hoping to save money on the town's utilities bills, the Marion Energy Management Committee is getting a plan in order to upgrade the lighting, sensors, insulation and boilers for several town facilities.

David Pierce, Chair of the committee, was on hand Tuesday night to present the findings from an energy audit of town facilities to the Selectmen. The audit was conducted in January by the Raynham-based company TNT Energy.

After much research, Pierce said the committee members felt it was in the best interest of the town to prioritize which buildings would benefit the most.

The first priority would be to upgrade the lighting and sensors in the Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Public Works, Waste Water Treatment Plant, Music Hall, Elizabeth Taber Library, Harbormaster’s building and the Sippican School.

After a period of four years, Pierce said it is estimated that the town would begin to see savings of $65,000 annually.

But, to save money, the town would have to spend money. To upgrade the lighting and sensors in these buildings, Pierce said that town would need to approve $169,000 to be spent on renovations.

“We must expend as a town before the savings are realized and we can start making money,” Pierce said.

The second priority would be to replace the insulation and boiler controls in the Fire Department. After an initial cost of $7,000 for the town, Pierce said that the town should see savings of $1,000 annually after a period of seven years.

Lastly, Pierce said the third priority would be to replace the boilers in the Music Hall and in the Taber Library. To do so would cost the town $44,000, but after ten years, Pierce said the town should see a savings of $3,000 per year.

While the committee aims to have a proposal in place in time for the spring Town Meeting, Pierce said there is still more information to be gathered.

For instance, both Pierce and committee member Norman Hills said that the committee has yet to see a plan from TNT Energy about how the upgrades would be completed.

“I would like to know a lot more about what they’re going to bring in and what they’re going to be taking out,” Hills said.

Selectmen Chair Stephen Cushing agreed.

“Obviously we don’t want to jump right into this,” Cushing said. “We would need more information.”

Pierce and Hills said the committee would continue its efforts to finalize a plan for the upgrades and would report back to the Selectmen.

Selectman John Henry commended the committee’s work thus far.

“You’re on the right track,” Henry said. “Keep chipping away at it.”